DE60301065T2 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING ADDITIVES TO A NONWOVEN FABRIC AND NONWOVEN MATERIAL - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for incorporating an additive material into a fibrous web to be bonded into an elongated porous element by heating the fibers in a confined forming die with a heating medium adapted to bond the fibers to each other at spaced points of contact. An additive material is admixed with the heating medium and then the web of fibers is contacted with the heating medium/additive material mixture whereby the heating medium simultaneously carries the additive material into the fibrous web and heats the fibers to bond them into the porous element. The apparatus includes an adjustable venturi assembly through which the heating medium passes to create a pressure gradient adapted to aspirate a quantity of additive material and entrain a metered quantity of same in the heating medium. The method and apparatus are preferably used to uniformly inject a surfactant into a stream of steam for producing an ink reservoir for a writing or marking instrument from a web of melt blown bicomponent fibers having a sheath of polyethylene terephthalate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical area

These The invention relates to the production of fiber products and in particular to methods and apparatus for applying additives on fiber elements during their production, and on the products thus produced.

Discussion of the Prior Art

For the generation of polymer fiber products are various techniques of Known in the art. The polymer fibers themselves can by several usual ones Techniques are often generated by the nature of the polymer and / or the desired ones Properties and applications of the resulting fibers are dictated. Such methods include conventional Melt spinning processes in which molten polymer under pressure is pumped to a spinning head and extruded from spinneret orifices, wherein it forms a variety of continuous fibers. Melt spinning stands only for Polymers available, whose melting point temperature is lower than its decomposition temperature, such as As nylon, polypropylene and the like, whereby the polymer material melted and extruded into fibrous form, without getting too decompose. Other polymers such. B. Acrylics can not without blackening and Decomposition to be melted. Such polymers can be in a suitable solvent (eg acetate in acetone) typically 20% polymer and 80% solvent solved become. In order to solidify the polymer fibers, is at a Wet spinning process the solution pumped through the spinneret at room temperature into a bath with a liquid (eg, water) in which the solvent is soluble. It is also possible, the fibers instead of a liquid bath in hot Air dry to evaporate the solvent and to form a clotting skin. Other common spinning techniques are sufficiently well-known and form no decisive part of the present inventive ideas.

To In spinning, the fibers are refined together by using be deducted from a speed of the spinning device, the is higher as the extrusion speed, producing finer fibers become. The fibers can be refined by squeezing rollers, which are with a exceed the extrusion rate Turn speed, or between yourself with different Speeds rotating nippers are added. ever in the manner of the polymer, pulling the fibers can make them that way more crystalline and therefore firmer.

A Refinement can also be effected by placing the fibers at their Emerging from the spinneret orifices with a fluid such. B. contacted high-speed air to pull them to fine fibers, usually as one tangled fiber web on a continuously moving surface like z. B. a production line or a drum surface collected for subsequent processing. This process known as "meltblowing" is because of his ability to refine the fibers while they are still melted in the production of many products of of special commercial importance.

polymer fibers can formed from a single polymer or from multiple polymer components become. A core of a polymer and a coating or a sheath of a different polymer having bicomponent fibers are z. For example many applications are particularly desirable because the core material can be relatively inexpensive and the fiber Gives mass and strength while a relatively thin one Coating of a more expensive or less robust jacket material can impart unique properties to the fiber.

One- or multi-component fibers may also be extruded in various forms such. B. circular, mehrlappig or similar. In addition, can a fibrous web having mixed properties simultaneously therefrom Device are extruded, such. B. in the jointly assigned US Pat. No. 6,103,181 (the '181 patent), the subject of the same taken in its entirety herein.

Independent of The way in which the fibers are formed can be made into a cloth form which can be folded to the surface area especially for certain filter applications to enlarge. alternative a fibrous web can be gathered together and through a series of forming stations such as B. steam treatment and cooling stations are performed, which can connect the fibers at their contact points to to form a continuous rod-like porous element that forms a tortuous path to the passage of a fluid material.

The products produced from fiber materials have many applications, for. B. as filter elements for use in various commercial and industrial environments such as tobacco smoke filter elements, coalescence filters and even suspended matter (HEPA) filters, which are also used as a heat and moisture exchanger for use in an artificial airway as in co United States Patent No. 6,330,833 (the '833 patent), the subject matter of which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Because of their strong capillary action, porous fiber products also function effectively in creating simple wicks for transferring liquids from one location to another, such as in the generation of fiber writing tips found in certain marking and writing instruments. In addition, these elements find use in various medical applications, e.g. B. for transporting a body fluid by capillary action to a test location in a diagnostic device. Other applications of fiber products are absorption containers, products designed to contain and simply store liquid, such as a diaper or incontinence pad. Absorption containers are also useful for medical applications. A layer or cushion of such a material may, for. B. be used in an enzyme immunoassay tester. In this, a body fluid is sucked through the fine pores of a thin membrane, the z. B. coated with monoclonal antibodies that interact with antigens in the body fluid pulled through the membrane, and then held in the absorption container.

Under the various products made of fiber materials of particular commercial interest are highly porous ink reservoir elements, used in marking and writing instruments, wherein the reservoir Ink with different formulations and the same able to deliver controllably. Such elements are z. B. from one to a rod-shaped Unit compressed fiber bundles formed with longitudinally arranged capillary channels which extend through the fibers and which serve to hold the ink and deliver it at the required rate. For a long time that was for the generation of such ink reservoir generally used material from fibers of plasticized cellulose acetate. It was in the past also the preferred material for tobacco smoke filters and other such products, and it could easily by means of Heat too a single body associated with many simultaneously used ink formulations was compatible.

in the Over the years, ink formulations have been developed which are incompatible with cellulose acetate and tend to degrade it. consequently replaced various thermoplastic fibers, especially fine polyester fibers, the cellulose acetate as the preferred polymer in the preparation of ink reservoir elements for disposable writing and marking instruments. efforts Polyester fibers by means of heat in the absence of additional adhesives, were not very successful. Because of the narrow softening point crystalline polyester polymers, it has not been practically possible drawn polyester fibers such. B. to connect cables by means of heat. Undrawn or amorphous polyester fibers are heat-bondable, but produce a useless product that shrinks excessively during processing. There is also a lack It is such materials in the presence of commercial inks at the Storing writing instruments required temperature stability. consequently were for some time polyester fiber ink reservoir elements produced commercially in the form of an unbonded fiber bundle, that by means of a film wrapping in a rod-shaped Unit was squeezed together and held together. Depending on the Execution of the Schreibinstruments, in which such reservoirs were introduced, could she a plastic vent pipe having a small diameter, that between the fiber bundle and the serving was arranged, if necessary, to serve as a vent channel.

were such foil wrapped Polyester fiber ink reservoir elements made with parallel continuous filament fibers, they had one sufficient ink retention capacity and adequate ink delivery properties for use with certain Types of marking or writing instruments, primarily those use the fiber tips or writing tips. But with the newer developments from Schreibku gel writing instruments, the faster ink delivery or require a "wet" system, are such reservoir elements commercially unacceptable. Try to reduce the ink delivery rate by reducing the fiber density and / or change the fiber size were increasing limited successful because (1) the levy from beginning to end was not uniform, (2) the reduced fiber density the ink holding capacity of the reservoir decreased, (3) the lower density polyester cable one very soft "bar" made in Heavy commercial high speed commercial production equipment and (4) the ink was often kept so weak that "leaks" occurred when such storage containers containing writing instruments were dropped.

To overcome such "leaks", a random fiber polyester staple ribbon has been used which better maintains the ink at lower densities. However, the spunbond-type polyester ink reservoir elements still tend to have undesirable softness and are often subject to the disadvantage of unacceptable weight variations that make it difficult to control ink flow to a roll marker. It was determined, that shapes of random staple fiber storage rather than parallel continuous filament fibers improve the ink delivery characteristics of short length reservoirs, but with the longer length required for adequate ink holding capacity, this construction lacks capillarity to function effectively.

Some These problems in the prior art have been overcome by the techniques in commonly assigned US Pat. No. 4,286,005 (the '005 patent), the subject matter of which is also incorporated herein in its entirety becomes. The ink reservoir of the '005 patent provides a combination of ink retention and ink delivery properties in different types of marking or writing instruments including roller markers and plastic writing tips useful are. Such ink reservoir become coherent towels formed from flexible thermoplastic fiber materials, the one Networking by chance arranged highly isolated continuous filament connection points exhibit. In this network are a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel Grooves shaped has been and is a dimensionally stable rod-shaped Body, its longitudinal axis parallel to the embossed Grooves, molded or pressed. Although the ink reservoir of the Patentes' 005 many Problems with products according to the state the technique overcame, Unfortunately, he required the use of relatively expensive materials a complex form and for this reason he has limited commercial Experience acceptance.

Commercially More acceptable polyester ink reservoirs are through the process manufactured in commonly assigned US Pat. 4,729,808 (the '808 patent) described in its entirety also herein is recorded. This process uses a raw material stretch yarn, often referred to as "false-twist yarn," the unusual Properties, including the ability to to stretch and curl or to twist. The product and process of the '808 patent essentially have all mentioned above Problems in the prior art largely overcome and thus a remarkable Acceptance in the marking and writing instruments achieved. false- however, requires the use of melt spun fibers which generally an average diameter of over 2 denier per filament (dpf) or approximately 12 microns. Although larger fibers useful in some wet systems is the gap to hold the ink and therefore the capacity in the reservoir smaller, because bigger fibers take up more volume. A small fiber size, less than about 12 microns, which is unreachable with false twist yarn provides a better Dispensing pressure without reducing the capacity. A leaks minimizing higher Delivery pressure, a particular problem with some ink compositions with very low surface tension, let yourself difficult to realize with false twisted yarn. An increase in the Density to improve leaks further reduces the capacity.

As mentioned are polyesters such. As polyethylene terephthalate because of their compatibility with many currently used ink formulations in the generation of ink reservoir elements uniquely effective. Compared to other polymer materials but they are expensive. That's why it became a process designed for the Generation of an ink reservoir The amount of polyethylene terephthalate required with acceptable ink holding capacity to minimize while controls the ink in a marking or writing instrument can be delivered by providing bicomponent fibers which are a substantial proportion of the polyethylene terephthalate through a more cost-effective Polymer core with a higher Replace melting point, such as For example, polypropylene or polybutylene terephthalate. Such techniques are described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,607,766 (the '766 patent) described in its entirety also herein is recorded. The '766 patent describes techniques that involve careful selection of processing parameters and Materials Extruding a Complete Coat of Polyethylene Terephthalate Over One allow less expensive thermoplastic core material, to produce bicomponent fibers that are easy to highly efficient inexpensive Ink reservoir elements process.

The Two-component fibers of the '766 patent also prove useful the production of many other commercially important products such as z. B. high-temperature filtration elements, which are made possible because of the relative high melting point of the polyester and the porous rods with high filterability, the limit interleaved intervening paths, which capture fine particles of material are effective when a gas or liquid passed through it will, including Elements that have acceptable properties in terms of hardness, pressure drop and draw resistance during the Have filtration for use in tobacco smoke filter elements. The products of the '766 patent also have as simple wicks as in the generation of fiber writing tips for marking or Writing instruments, various applications, absorption storage containers and the like Application found.

The preferred technique for forming the bicomponent fibers of the '766 patent, and finally To form fine one-component and multicomponent fiber materials formed from other polymeric constituents is meltblowing, that is, the use of a high velocity and low pressure gas stream at the exit of a fiber extrusion die to refine or dilute the fibers as they move are in their molten state. See, for example, See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,595,245, 3,615,995, and 3,972,759 (the '245,' 995, and '759 patents, respectively), the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference, for a comprehensive explanation of meltblown processing. Meltblowing of fibrous materials can produce a web or roving in which the fibers have, on average, a diameter of from about 12 microns or less down to 5 and even 1 micron. Such fine meltblown fibers have significant advantages in most of the applications mentioned above. When used in the production of ink reservoirs, the small diameter fibers produce e.g. For example, they have a high surface area and holding power compared to larger diameter fibers made by other techniques and, when used in the formation of filter elements, provide a higher filtration efficiency by increasing the surface area for the same polymer weight.

In many cases For example, the fiber products described above require the inclusion of a Additive in the fiber web during production or they are improved by this inclusion. In some cases For example, the bulk additive may simply be prior to extruding the polymer melt be added. For However, many applications make this approach impossible or inefficient. alternative Is it possible, liquid surface treatments of the fiber material during make the production locally, such. B. by soaking the Fiber material in highly diluted solutions of the additive in an attempt to ensure that throughout Fiber structure is included sufficient additive material. The The present invention relates to these methods.

at the generation of porous Elements of cellulose acetate is z. B. the addition of a plasticizer required to use the fibers during the To make production connectable by steam. Other compounds become ordinary added to a fibrous web, to form connections between the fibers at their points of contact. In addition, will smoke-modifying or taste-modifying additives such. As menthol advantageously during generation in the body a tobacco smoke filter included. The addition of selected surfactants in a certain concentration to one as an ink reservoir for marking and writing instruments to be used fiber agent modifies the surface properties the fibers to the absorption capacity and / or compatibility to improve with certain ink formulations.

As mentioned, can Wick materials used in various medical applications with solutions active ingredients such. B. treated monoclonal antibody to interact with materials passed therethrough to step. Furthermore, can color-changing Additives are included to determine the presence of certain Identify ingredients in such materials.

One antibacterial additive can be added to a fiber element To minimize mold problems, an active test material can be used to a low density fiber material and a polyethylene sheath / polypropylene core, that used in the production of a pregnancy test wick will be added become, and a fleeting Drug can enter a fiber heat and moisture exchangers of the type described in the '833 patent become.

Of the Inclusion of other additives in the production of self-curling Yarns, ribbon cables or other fiber products is one of ordinary skill in the art well known or obvious. The uniform application such additives especially during high-speed commercial manufacturing processes and in layers or webs or fibrous material throughout their Area is difficult to manage efficiently and cost effectively, especially with meltblown webs.

A property of meltblown fiber materials such as. Produced by the above-mentioned earlier issued patents, is the dry nature of the fiber surfaces. Uniform application and retention of additives to such materials is particularly difficult because prior art meltblowing processes are incapable of providing a methodology for applying liquid additives to a meltblown web as it is being extruded or gathered. Moreover, the penetration of the additives into the core of webs or slivers from such dry fiber materials is difficult to provide for a uniform amount of the additive throughout the final product, especially at the high speeds of commercial processing equipment. To ensure uniform application of such materials, they were previously heavily diluted, as in an aqueous solution, and the fibrous webs passed through a flooded preparation die to impregnate the fibers with the solution and thereby pass the web with the additive penetrate. The disadvantages of such a method are obvious. First, there is a need to form a dilute solution of the additive material, which not only adds to labor costs but requires an excessive amount of additive, which also increases material costs. In addition, after soaking the web with the diluted additive solution, it is necessary to remove the excess fluid and dry the material for processing following production. The amount of additive applied is generally controlled by blowing away the unwanted solution with an air-stripping, compressed-air drying or thermo-oven device. However, because of the operating speed, it is very difficult to get the resulting units completely dry on exiting a stripping nozzle or the like. Units processed in this manner tend to feel wet, significantly complicating the processing following production, and contributing to the undesirable waste of additive material. In addition, the production of a wet product can lead to significant downstream problems with mold or other biological growth that builds up in the product.

numerous Fiber products are with hot air, saturated Steam or other fluid heating means thermally connectable. The Activation of connectivity of plasticized cellulose acetate z. B. by steam treatment in the production of conventional Tobacco smoke filter rods and other porous ones Elements in which the fibers are at their contact points with each other be connected to a meandering intermediate path for the local flow therethrough a fluid such. For example, to provide tobacco smoke. As described in the '766 patent, similarly meltblown Two-component fibers with a polyethylene terephthalate coat and a core of polypropylene or similar in a long and thin, be transformed into essentially self-supporting porous rod, for use, for example, as ink reservoir elements can be divided into a one-step or continuous process because the polyethylene terephthalate sheath has the unusual property at a temperature below the melting temperature of the core material to experience a crystallization, and therefore the fibers are with heated fluid thermally connectable.

It would be special desirable, the even and rapid application of an additive material during the production of any of the fiber products discussed above, especially in the cases in which a web of fine fibers is meltblown and therefore on a dry way was created which the difficulty in processing eliminated such materials.

TASKS AND CONTENT OF THE INVENTION

A The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved method and apparatus for Introducing an additive material into a fibrous web, in particular around the surface properties fibers or convert them into products and products with comparable or better uniformity to a more efficient one and cheaper Way to produce it as with the technology of the prior art possible is.

in the Consistent with the foregoing is an important object of this invention the provision of a system that allows the application of additive materials in a way that allows not necessarily a dilution necessary and precludes the need for Fiber web with solutions of the additive, causing much drier production Units without the need of expensive and extensive Air stripping or the like results and thereby the aftertreatment with little or no wasted additive.

A Another object of this invention is the application of an additive material on a polymeric fiber web to the surface properties of the fiber by means of the heating medium that joins the fibers into a final product, to change. More specifically, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention using steam to activate the bonding properties the fibers in a web the additive material during the bonding step carried by the steam in the train.

A Another object of this invention is the Breitstellung a method and means for producing fiber elements that obviate the need the additive saturation by dilute Solutions and remove any accompanying drying techniques that were previously required. Consistent with this, the present invention contemplates application of additives using the bonding of the fiber elements causing heating medium, such. Steam, as a carrier for the additive before, what the use undiluted Allows additive materials and the feed rates and costs of injecting additives into the fiber material and by extensive thermal drying or Air stripping costs significantly lower.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique method and apparatus for controlling the amount of additive applied to the fibrous web by means of a heating fluid such. Steam to aspirate a metered amount of additive material from a source thereof through an adjustable venturi assembly and then to transport the additive to a die where the heating fluid completely penetrates the fiber material and uniformly deposits the additive throughout the web it simultaneously interconnects the fibers at their spaced contact points.

In summary It is a principal and fundamental object of this invention to combine two earlier independent Processing functions, namely the application of additive and the heating of the fiber material to connect the fibers at spaced contact points and a more commercially viable and economical one Manufacturing process and resulting products with more uniform and to provide more predictable properties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features, and many of the attendant advantages of this invention professionals more easily in conjunction with the following detailed Description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings. Show it:

1 a cross-sectional view of a form of the application and shaping nozzle, which is useful in a process line for producing fiber products according to this invention;

2 a schematic view of a portion of the process line in which the additive material is sucked by a Venturi module in the heating means and transported by the heating means in the forming station;

3 a graph comparing the surfactant concentration and its effect on liquid absorption in a reservoir element formed with the prior art technique of saturating a molded fiber element with additive and then removing excess additive with an air-stripping tool is compared to a product formed by the process of the present invention wherein the surfactant is added by steam injection; and

4 a graph comparing the weight variation in products made with the prior art techniques and technique.

identical Reference numerals refer everywhere in the several views of the drawings to like parts.

Other and other objects, features and advantages of the invention with reference to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the appended claims Drawings visible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

at the description of preferred embodiments of the invention For the sake of clarity, special terminology is used. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific ones so selected Designations limited is, and it is understood that every special designation is all technical equivalents, in a similar way work to a similar one Purpose to fulfill.

As mentioned above The present inventive ideas generally relate to application an additive material on a fiber surface to the surface properties the fibers or the properties of one in many commercial To transform or change environments from the resulting product. There however, a special commercially significant application of these ideas in the production of ink reservoir elements, wherein a surface active Substance or surfactant is applied to a fibrous web in order to and to change delivery characteristics of the products produced therefrom The following detailed description is based on the use of the Method and means of this invention in the production of Ink reservoir elements for marking and writing instruments, the two-component fibers having a polyethylene terephthalate sheath / polypropylene core, which are melt-blown by a high velocity air stream, if the fibers from the spinneret openings exit and while they are still melted. Techniques for producing such fibrous webs are well known but particularly effective, highly uniform homogeneous Webs of such materials can by the one mentioned in the above Patent '181 described two-mode or mixed fiber ideas and connected by steam to long and thin porous To form elements in the cylinder of a pen or the like can be enclosed and filled with an amount of ink when they chilled are.

Exemplary processing lines for the formation of fiber products can be seen in many prior art patents, e.g. In the above-referenced '766 and' 181 patents. Such processing lines may be conventional Meltblown fiber spinning apparatus which, if the product to be manufactured is an ink reservoir, can extrude monocomponent fibers composed of polyesters such as e.g. For example, poly ethylene terephthalate or bicomponent fibers having a polyester shell and a polypropylene or other thermoplastic core are molded as mentioned in any of the aforementioned patents set forth for extruding bicomponent fibers of such materials, particularly the '766 patent ,

Become the extruded fibers are meltblown, they are ignored of their kind preferably refined by a high-speed airflow, the production of fine fibers in the order of 12 microns or less possible. These are called a ribbon-like, non-woven filament bundle in the form of a random scattered, confused path or a randomly scattered, confused Roving on a conveyor belt or a conventional one with a grid covered vacuum collection drum or other moving surface, which separates the fibrous web from entrained air, collected continuously, to facilitate the further processing.

The Web is then transported through several processing stations, wherein they generally have a collection nozzle crosses the fiber bundle of his bring finished size closer, to produce a rod-like element, which in a application and forming die occurs where the fibers at their points of contact by steam or the like be connected together to produce an endless element, this through a standard cooling and drying station is transported. This process creates a relative self-supporting highly porous Fiber rod suitable for packaging or subsequent use Finished product lengths can be cut.

It It should be understood that the above description of a process line is exemplary only is and is not intended to be every single element contains the treatment of certain polymeric materials during formation porous Bars for different Applications may be required.

A typical steaming and forming die for use in a process line of the type described is disclosed in U.S.P. 1 With 30 marked shown. This has an inlet opening 31 for the steam or other heating fluid that enters under pressure and then in the nozzle plenum 32 Compensates to pass through a series of application openings 33 into the nozzle profile bore 34 to pass through, in a well-known manner, a non-woven bundle 25 to an endless element 28 shaped. The openings 33 may be arranged diametrically as shown, or to the inlet or outlet of the bore 34 at an angle, depending on the particular processing technology used.

As regards in particular 2 can be seen, according to the preferred techniques of this invention, an additive material such. B. a surfactant from an additive supply reservoir 50 through a standard peristaltic metering pump 52 in an additive venturi assembly 60 fed with adjustable flow rate. The steam or other pressurized heating fluid transport 55 is via the transport inlet port 61 to the venturi assembly 60 delivered where he is in the collection chamber 62 enters, wherein he experiences a pressure equalization, before he to the tapered nozzle 63 which flows through the complementary, threaded outer 64 and inner 65 Sections are formed that cause a flow contraction through O-rings 66 sealed venturi assembly 60 form. The steam flow loses pressure and accelerates through the smaller nozzle cross-section, which is achieved by turning the elements 64 . 65 can be adjusted against each other to a favorable pressure gradient and a low pressure zone at the nozzle outlet 67 to create. The pressure gradient sucks the additive from the reservoir 50 at which it entrains the additive in the high velocity transport stream of steam so that the additive passes through the vapor fluid transport lines 69 along to the application and molding nozzle 30 is transported, where the vapor-additive mixture into the inlet opening 31 is fed.

The Use of the Dampfansaug-applicator according to this Invention allows in relatively low production rates the application undiluted fluid additives on a meltblown or other nonwoven Train or a ribbon cable bundle or self-curling Yarns during or before the molding process. So fulfilled the steam or another heating fluid has a dual function, wherein he carries the additive material to and in the fiber bundle to the additive in a to include substantially dry process uniformly in the final product, and simultaneously interconnecting the fibers at their spaced contact points. So this system avoids the time and cost of diluting the Additive material, add the same to the fiber bundle by flooding a nozzle diluted with high volumes Additive solution to ensure that the additive penetrates into the fiber bundle, and then the try, the soaked To dry fibers by air stripping or otherwise with significant amounts of additive being wasted and molding of the final product unnecessarily is slowed down.

Out 3 It can be seen that the liquid absorption of the products of the vapor injection deposition process of this invention is largely the same as that of products of the more time consuming and costly conventional additive entrapping technique. In addition, the steam suction techniques gave nearly the same weight match as out 4 which indicates reliable application rates and manageable process conditions.

The The above descriptions and drawings are only for illustration to understand the basic idea of the invention. For the expert will be readily numerous applications of the present invention result. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the preferred embodiments or the exact design or operation of the illustrated and described restricted preferred device be. Rather, it may be of all suitable modifications and equivalents Use is made within the scope of the invention fall.

Claims (33)

Method for introducing an additive material in a fibrous web, wherein by applying a liquid heating means the fibers in the web at spaced contact points with each other be connected to a porous Element to form, the improvement being the mixing of the additive material with the heating means and then contacting the fibrous web with having the mixture of heating agent and additive material, whereby the heating medium at the same time the additive material in the fiber web wears and the Heated fibers in the web, to interconnect the fibers at spaced contact points and so the porous one Element to form. The improvement of claim 1, wherein a controlled Amount of additive material from a source of such additive material sucked and fed into a stream of heating medium to the Mixture of heating agent and additive material to form. The improvement of claim 2, wherein the amount of the Additive material is metered and then passes an adjustable venturi assembly, to suck the additive material into the stream of heating medium. The improvement of claim 3, wherein the heating means in a smaller nozzle cross-section the Venturi assembly is fed to the flow of the Accelerate heating medium and a zone of low pressure at the nozzle outlet to produce, by the resulting pressure gradient a controlled amount of the additive material from the source of such Material is sucked to entrain the additive material in the flowing heating means, so that the additive material is conveyed by the heating means, and then the fibrous web with the mixture of heating medium and additive material in contact is brought. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the fibrous web to the porous Element is formed by making the fibrous web an elongated delimited forming zone goes through and the fiber web with the mixture of heating agent and additive material in touch is brought by the mixture is injected into the molding zone, while the fibrous web goes through it. The improvement of claim 5, wherein the mold zone through an elongated opening in a shaping nozzle is formed and the mixture of heating medium and additive material on the circumference at an angle to the direction of movement of the fibrous web in the opening is injected. The improvement of claim 6, wherein the mixture diametrically in the opening is injected. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the additive material a liquid Has material that is such that it has the surface properties the fibers in the web changes. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the fibers in the web are meltblown fibers and the additive material a liquid Material is that is the surface properties the fibers changes. The improvement of claim 9, wherein the porous element as an ink reservoir for a Marking or writing instrument is to be used and the additive material a surface active Fabric is that of the surface properties the fibers are modified to have the absorbency and / or compatibility with certain To improve ink formulations. The improvement of claim 10, wherein the heating means Steam is. The improvement of claim 11, wherein the fibers at least one surface of polyester polymer in the web. The improvement of claim 12, wherein the polyester polymer Polyethylene terephthalate is. The improvement of claim 13, wherein the fibers Two-component sheath / core fibers are, and the sheath polyethylene terephthalate having. The improvement of claim 14, wherein the bicomponent fibers have a polypropylene core. The improvement of claim 14, wherein the bicomponent fibers have a core of polybutylene terephthalate. The improvement of claim 8, wherein the fibers have at least one surface of cellulose acetate in the web and the additive material comprises a plasticizer. Method for producing an ink reservoir for a marking or writing instrument, with the melt blowing of a fibrous web, the at least one surface of polyethylene terephthalate, entraining an amount of a surfactant Stoffes, the surface properties the fibers modified to the absorbency and / or compatibility with certain ink formulations in a flowing To improve steam flow, and then taking the fiber web with the mixture from steam and surface-active Is brought into contact with the surfactant at the same time Fabric to transport in the fiber web and the fibers in the web to heat with the steam and thus the fibers at spaced contact points with each other connect and a porous one To form an element which is subdivided for use as an ink reservoir can be. The method of claim 18, wherein the surfactant Substance is metered and then an adjustable venturi assembly happens to be the surfactant To suck substance into the vapor stream. The method of claim 18, wherein the steam in a decreasing nozzle cross section of Venturi assembly is fed to the steam flow too accelerate and a zone of low pressure at the nozzle exit to produce, by the resulting pressure gradient a controlled amount of surfactant is sucked from a source of such Ma material to the surfactant Fabric in the pouring To carry away steam, so that the surface-active Substance transported by steam is, and then wherein the fiber web with the mixture of steam and surfactant Cloth brought into contact becomes. The method of claim 18, wherein the fibrous web to the porous Element is formed by the fiber web undergoes an elongated limited molding zone, and the fiber web with the mixture of vapor and surfactant Cloth brought into contact is injected by the mixture in the molding zone, while the Fiber web she goes through. The method of claim 18, wherein the fibers in the web at least one surface of polyethylene terephthalate. The method of claim 22, wherein the fibers are bicomponent sheath / core fibers and the jacket comprises polyethylene terephthalate. The method of claim 23, wherein the bicomponent fibers have a polypropylene core. Device for introducing an additive material in a fibrous web, wherein by applying a liquid heating means the fibers in the web at spaced contact points with each other be connected to a porous Element to form, wherein the improvement has a source of Additive material, a source of the heating medium, a molding die for molding a continuous fiber web to an elongated element, means for Forming channels, which lead the heating medium from the source of the heating medium into the molding nozzle with the fiber web while she goes through this, to be contacted, and means to add a quantity of the additive material in the flow Entrain heating medium before it the molding nozzle achieved to form a mixture of heating medium and additive material, causing the fibrous web with the mixture of heating medium and additive material in the die is brought into contact simultaneously with the additive material to carry the fibrous web and to heat the fibers in the web and so as to connect the fibers together at spaced contact points and the porous element to build. The improvement of claim 25, further comprising adjustable venturi assembly to remove the additive material from the Suction source of the additive material in the flow of the heating medium and so to form the mixture of heating agent and additive material. The improvement of claim 26, wherein the venturi assembly a nozzle having decreasing cross-section to the flow of Accelerate heating medium and a zone of low pressure at the nozzle outlet to produce, by the resulting pressure gradient a controlled amount of the additive material from the source of such Material is sucked in to the additive material in the flowing heating medium entrain such that the additive material is carried by the heating medium into the forming die. The improvement of claim 25, wherein the forming die forms an elongated confined forming zone traversed by the fibrous web and having a plurality of circumferential apertures in the forming die for injecting the mixture of heating agent and additive material into the forming zone while being separated from the forming die Fiber web is passed through. The improvement of claim 28, wherein the peripheral openings extend diametrically into the forming zone. The improvement of claim 25, further comprising means for melt blowing the fiber web during extrusion and before feeding into the molding nozzle. The improvement of claim 30, wherein the porous element as an ink reservoir for a Marking or writing instrument is to be used and the additive material a surface active Fabric is that of the surface properties the fibers are modified to have the absorbency and / or compatibility with certain To improve ink formulations, wherein the heating means is steam and the fibers in the web at least one surface Have polyethylene terephthalate. An improvement according to claim 31, comprising means for molding the fibers as a two-component sheath / core fibers, wherein the sheath Polyethylene terephthalate has. The improvement of claim 32, wherein the bicomponent fibers be provided with a core of polypropylene.